Candy Sales Sweet Even for this Time of Year

Halloween spending on track to surpass 2011

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Struggling economy, conflicted election season. All are being put aside in time for Halloween, as candy sales are expected to be the higher than any year in the past decade, according to a report on KULR8 TV in Billings, Mont.

The National Confectioners Association estimates consumers will spend about $2.4 billion this year on Halloween.

Sales in Billings have been following this trend. The local Target there has seen sales increase from 2011.

"Sales for candy are going really well. We're definitely seeing an increase in our candy sales this year through the Halloween season, extremely busy in our store in the last couple weeks and this weekend especially," said employee Jayme Larson.

The traditional candy corn is still a best seller. And Snickers bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups took the lead for popular chocolates at Target. But alternatives to candy are also becoming more popular.

"If you don't want to give your trick-or-treaters chocolate, if you want a different alternative to candy, we do have snack-size kettle corn and pretzels," said Larson.

And there's been a trend in buying a wider variety of candy for trick-or-treaters rather than the bulk value bags.

"I've seen that we're selling through the smaller bags of candy more, just I think to give different options to your trick-or-treaters that come," said Larson.

The store expects to become busier as Halloween approaches, with last minute shoppers rushing to checkout counters.